Typewriting machines



J. A. B. SMITH.

' TYPEWRITING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 18, 1920.

Patented Sept. 12, 19

m Ill Alf/away JESSE A. B. SMITH, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T UNDERWQQD TYPE- WRITER COMPANY, QF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CQRPORATIQN @F DELAWARE.

rrrnwarrlne rascrrritns.

.lpplication liled June 18, 1920. Serial No. 389,805.

To all'whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Jesse A. B. SMITH, a

' citizen of the United States, residing in Stamford, in the county of Faii'field and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Typewriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to typewriting machines, and is herein disclosed as applied to an Underwood continuous billing machine, one form of which is shown in the patent to Werner-y and Smith, No. 1,132,055, dated March 16, 1915; in such machines, it is common to use i'an-;tolded webs which are threaded through a carbon-paper carriage, the latter adapted to be reciprocated upon an extension of the typewriter carriage. The faufolded webs frequently come folded cross-wise, so that theycan be handled in the form of bales instead ct being wound upon reels or rollers The transverse folds of such webs frequently interfere with the smooth operation of the machine,-especially where the machine is provided with sli'tters which slit the tan-folded web as it approaches or leaves the carbon-paper can riage. Moreover, these tan-folded webs are frequently made of cheap paper and as economically as possible, with the result that the longitudinal Lt'olds are not always located with the accuracy which insures the rapid and accurate working of the machine; especially they are likely to interfere with the clean cutting of the webs by the slitters by being irregularly folded longitudinally,

According to the present invention, this and other troubles in typewriting machines may be overcome by providing ironing or smoothing devices, which are adapted to smooth out any transverse folds which may exist in the fan-folded web, and may iron down the longitudinal folds, thus making the web compact and smooth if passed around the platen uncut. Moreover, these devices make the folds sharp enough to insure that the slitters will slit the webs cleanly, even it the usual perforations along the longitudlnal folds of the webs do not exactly follow the line or the fold as sometimes happens.

The smoothing or ironing devices may take the form of channel bars which are attached to the carbon paper carriage, and which may be broad enough to substantially smooth out any transverse fold in the web. In order to keep the mechanism light and at the same time render it less liable to be injured by jars, the smoothing devices may be carried upon light, resilient bars attached in any suitable manner to the carbon-paper carriage, and at a considerable distance behind said carriage. v it has been found that side gages will work very eilectively if mounted upon the channel bars so as to extend their bearing surfaces to engage the webs behind said bars.

@ther features and advantages willhera inafter appear.

in the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view, largely diagrammatic, of an Underwood typewrittill mg machine of the class described, showing tension 8 of the typewriter carriage, said extension including rails 9, upon which travels a carbon-paper carriage 10, the latter including the usual removable carbon-clip bars or carbon-holders 11, mounted upon the steps 12, carried by the usual detachable base 13. The webs t, 5, and 6,1as' they are drawn from the rear over the cross-bar 7, frequently engage slitters or knives is mounted upon the ends of the carbon-clip bars 11, said slitters being so positioned that they engage the folds l5 and 16 of the ian folded web, slitting it so that its separated plies 4-, 5, and 6 are threaded between the clip bars ll, and pass forward, being bent down over the cross-bar 3, and carried upon the paper table 2 under the platen and up to the printing line, diagrammatically shown by the type-head 17., i

In its normal or writing position, shown in Figures 1 and 2, the platen bears against rear and front feed-rolls l8 and 19. in the usual operation of the machine, when the desired number oi lines have been typed upon the outer ply 6 so as to fill up the form Ell or for any other purpose, the platen 1 is swung to its displaced position, and the web plies 4, 5, andfi are drawn forward and gagedv against the usual leading-edge gage, not shown herein, after which the carbon sheets 20, carried by the clip bars 11, are pulled rearwardly by pushing rearwardly the usual handle 21, which carries rearwardly the carbonpaper carriage, until it reaches a stop 22 of any usual or desired form which to the channel bars 23, 24, it is smoothed out in passing between them, owing to the fact that the channel bars 23 and 24 have flat faces 26 opposing each other of sulficient length measured rearwardly to smooth out folds like the told 25. In order to enable the channel bars 23, 24, to effectivelyiron out or smooth out the folds in the manner described, they are resiliently held together by a spring 27 at-each end, each spring surroundin a passes through a airly closely-fitting opening in a thin resilient support or arm 29 fast to thedetachable top or base 13, and

on its upper end a thumbscrew 30, which is adapted to be screwed down upon the top channel bar 23, thus varying the tension. of the spring 27, and thereby varying the force with which the channel bars bear against each other.

In the construction shown, the spring 27 forms the support-for the channel ,bars 23,

each post having 24, u on the resilient arms 29, with the result t at if the channel bars are accidentally hit or caught, the spring 27' and resilient arms or mountings 29 will yield, and thus rotect the rest of the mechanism from bemg wrenched. Each channel bar 23, 24, ma extend somewhat outside the adjacent rai 9, and thus provide a long bearing forv the extension 31 of an adjacent side gage 32, which extends rearwardly from the channel bar in the form of a flat vertical member. To connect the'vertical member with the extension 31, the age member also includes a fiat plate 33 lying close againstthe rear vertical edges 34 and 35' of the u per and lower channel bars 23 and 24,3118 then is bent as a closely-fittin U 37 over the edge I 34, and then down on t e inside of the channel bar to join the extension 31. I The wide bearing surface of this character gives sufheaded post 28, whichscope of the invention,

ficient friction to hold the side edge gage 32 in place by the thumb-screw 30, which engages it because the post 28 passes through an opening or slot 39 in the extension 31. Thus, a single thumb-screw 30 at each end holds both the channel bars 23 and 24 in place, and each also holds the adjacent side gage 32 in place.

It will be observed that the channel bars 23 and 24 ,form admirable ironingdevices for ironing down 15 and 16 of the famfolded-web. They also serve to smooth down not only folds like the" but also -folds 40, which usually fold 25, alternate with folds like told 25 in fanthe longitudinal folds folded Webs as usually sent to market. The channel bars 23, 24, may be exceedinggg'ly.

light and yet will be found if their engaged faces are in the neighbor hood of 1% long. Where they are this size, the 'spring 27 need not be of-sufiicient strength to create an undue friction upon the web, with the result that the presence of the smoothing device is ticed in the usual operation of the machine. The supporting arms 29 may be held in place by screws 41, which are threaded very effective through the detachable base 13 from the underlie the bottom, and an arm 29 may detachable step base 12 on each side of the basalt). I

- It is found that by using the thin flat plates 14 of metal as extensions of the clip bars for the severing devices, the ironing downof the longitudinal folds by the chanpractically unnonel plates will ensure clean severing of the plies 4, 5, and 6, evenif the usual perforations along the folds 15and 16 do not run true, thus avoiding the irregular cutting which might otherwise result.

Variations may be resorted to within the and portions of the im rovements may be used without others.

aving thus described my invention, claim:

1. In. a typewriting machine, the nation with a traveling carriage and a displaceable platen, of a carbon-paper-carriage reciprocable on the travelin carriage, and throu h which 'a fan-folds webmay be threa ed, slitters for said web, and a smoothcombi- Ill ing device for smoothing the web as it apan gages at the plates to side-gage the'web;

n a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage. and a dlsthe 'combimesses placeable platen, of a carbon-paper-carriage reciprocable on the traveling carriage, carbon-clip-bars upon said carbon-paper-carriage throu h which a fan-folded Web may be threade slitters for the Web upon said clip-bars, and a device upon the carbon paper-carriage for smoothing the Web as it approaches the slitters.

4:. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and av displaceable platen,'of a carhon-paper-carriage reciprocahle on the traveling carriage, car hon-clip-hars upon said carhon-paper-carriage through which a fan-folded Weh may be threaded, slitters for the Web upon said clip-bars, and a pair of plates carried by the carbon-paperrcarriage resiliently bearing upon each other to smooth the web."

5. In a tymwriting" machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a dis placeahle platen, of a carhon-paper-carriage reciprocahle on the traveling carriage, carioon-clip-hars upon said carbon-paper-carriage through, which a fan-folded Wel) may I he threaded, slitters for the Web upon said clip-hers, and means for pressing down each fold of the Web hehinol its slitter to enable the slitter to cut it smoothly.

6. In a typewriting.inachina 'the coinhination with a traveling carriage and a displaceehle platen, of a carhon-paper-earriege reciprocalole on the travelin carriage, and through which a landslide Weh may he threaded, slitters for said Web, a pair oi? plates behind the slitters for smoothing the Web, a spring for adjustahlyrholding said plates together, and a resilient mounting for said plates upon the carhon-paper-carriage,

7. ln a typewriting machine, the combinetion with a traveling carriage and a displaceahle platen, of a carbon-paper-carriag'ge reciprocahle on the traveling carriage, and through which a fan-folded 'Welo may he threaded, slitters for said web, a plate can ried by the carhon-paper-carria'ge behind the slitters, a second plate above the first, an adjustahle gage carried upon the plates, a post, a thumb-screw adapted to he turneddown upon the post to bind the plates "and gage together, and a spring loy which the post hears upon one of the plates to resiliently vary the pressure of the plates.

8. In a typewriting machine, the eomhina= tion with a traveling carriage and a displaceable-platen, of a carhon-paper-carriagc reciprocable "on the traveling carriage, and through which a fan-folded Web may he threaded, slitters for said Web, means behind each slitter for ironing down the Web-told as it approaches its slitter, and .a side gage at said means.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a displaceable platen, of a carhon-paper-carriage reciprocable on the traveling carriage, and

seciprocahle on the .trar

through which a fan-folded web may be threaded, slitters for said Web, means hehind each slitter for ironing down the web: told as it approaches its slitter, an adjustable sidegage for the Web at said means, and a resilient device for adjustahly varying the tension ofthe ironing means.

10. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a displaceable platen, of a carhon-papencarriage reciprocahle on the travelingcarriage, and through which a fan-folded Web may be threaded, slitters for said web, a broad light channel plate extending across the machine behind the slitters, a second broad light channel plate lying against the first, and resilient devices holding the plates together to enahle them to iron out the weh in being drawn through them 11. ln a typewriting machine, the conebination with a traveling carriage and a dis placeable platen, of a carhon-paper-carriage reciprocahle on the traveling}; carriage, and through which a fan-folded. Web may he threaded, slitters for said Wch, a broad light channel plate extending across the machine behind the slitters, a second broad light channel plate lying against the first, resilient devices holding the plates together to enable them to iron out the web in heingdrawn through them, and an adjustable gage for the Web at each'end of the plates.

12. In a typewritingmachine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a displaceahle platen, of a carhon-paper-carriage reciprocahle on the traveling carriage, and through which a fanlolded Web may he threaded, slitters for said Weh, a broad light channel plate extending across the machine behind the slitters, a second broad light channel plate lying against the first, an adjinstahle side gage for each side of the Web supported on one of the plates, and a single releasable device for adj nsting each gage and the hearing of the plates upon each other.

l3. In a typewriting machine, the combination with atraveling carriage and a displaceable platen, of a carhompaper-carriage reciprocahle on the traveling carriage, and through which a fan-folded Web may he threaded, slitters for said web, a hroad light channel plate extending across the machine behind the slitters, a second broad light channel plate lying against the first, an ad jnstahle side gage for each side of the Weh supported on one of the plates, and means for resiliently supporting said plates on the carhon-paper-catriage,

i l. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a displaceahle platen, of at ca "hon paper-carriage through which a. tan-folded wch may he threaded, slitters for said "well, a broad light channel plate extending across the machine cling carriage, and

' placeable platen,

'meansfor adjustably holding the gages in place.

nation with a traveling carriage and a disof acarbon-paper-carriage reciprocable on the traveling carriage, and through which a fan-folded web may be threaded, slitters for said web, a broad light channel-plate extending across the machine behindthe slitters, a second broad light channel plate lying against the first, a support for each end of the plates extending from the carbon-paper-carriage, a post extending through both plates and each support, and comprising a head, a spring for each post, and a thumb-screw adapted to be screwed down on each post to bind the plates resiliently together by the spring. 4

16. In atypewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and. a dis' placeable platen, of acarbon-paper-carriage reciproc'able on the traveling carriage, and through which a. fan-folded web may be threaded, slitters for said web, a broad light channel plate extending, across the machine behind. the slitters, a light channel plate lying against'the first, a support for each end of theplates extending fromthe,carbon-pa-perfcarriage, a; post ex tending through boti plates and each. support, and comprising a head, a spring for each post, a thumb-screw adapted to be screwed down on each post to bind the plates resiliently together by the spring, and side gages supported on said plates and adjustabl fastened by said screws.-' 7

1 In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a displaceable platen, of acarbon-paper carriage 15. In a typewriting machine, the combisecond broad I reciprocable on the traveling carriage, and through which a fan-folded web may be threaded, slitters for said web, a pair of light channel bars behind the slitters and adapted-to iron out webs, a pair of side gages comprising extensions fittin into the channels for adju'st'ably supportmg them, and means for resiliently holding the chan nel bars together.

18. In a typewriting machine, the combination with a traveling carriage and a displaceable platen, of a carbon-paper-carriage reciprocable on the traveling carriage, an through which a fan-folded web may be threaded, slitters for said web, a pair of light channel bars behind the slitters and adapted to iron out webs, a pair of side gages comprising extensions fitting into the channels for adjustably supporting them, means for resiliently holding the channel bars together, and resilient extensions extending rearwardly from the carbon-papercarria e to support the bars.

19. n a typewriting machine, in combination, a traveling carriage, a platen, a reciprocable carbon-paper carriage at the rear of'the platen and ed web may be threaded, slitters for said web, and adevice for flattening and creasing the web for slitting as it approaches the slitters. Y

, 20. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a traveling carriage, a platen, a reciprocable carbon-paper carriage at the rear of the platen and through which a fan-fold ed web may be threaded, slitters for said web, a pair of pressing members behind the slitters and between which the web passes, and means for resiliently holdin such members together so as to flatten an l l folds of the web for slitting as it approaches the slitters.

JESSE A. B. SMITH.

Witnesses CATHERINE A. NEWELL, JENNIE P. THORNE.

through which' a.'fan-foldcrease the 

